Can someone help me with comfort eating?

Yes, many people find support really useful. A weight and eating practitioner helps you spot what sets off the urge to eat for comfort, try other ways of soothing yourself, and build steadier everyday habits without harsh rules. It is not about willpower or blame. If eating feels out of control, or comes with shame, secrecy or making yourself sick, please see your GP first.

What help with comfort eating involves

• Understanding your pattern. When do you reach for food, what are you feeling just before, and what do you hope it will do for you?
• Telling hunger from feeling. Learning to notice whether your body wants food or whether you want comfort, a break or company.
• Other ways to soothe. Small things you can do in the first few minutes of an urge: a drink, a walk, a call, a few slow breaths.
• Steadier routines. Regular meals, enough sleep and fewer strict rules often make the urges quieter.
• Kindness over punishment. Feeling guilty after eating tends to feed the cycle, so good support is gentle.

What a first session is like

Expect a relaxed chat of 45 to 60 minutes. Your practitioner asks about your eating, your days, your stress and what you have tried before. You are not weighed unless you want to be, and nobody will judge what you eat. You usually leave with one or two small things to try, such as noting when the urges come or trying a pause before you eat.

Who can help, and how

Weight and eating practitioners often work on habits and routines. Some hypnotherapists use relaxation and calming suggestions to help you feel more in charge of urges. Counsellors give you time to talk about the feelings underneath, which suits you if eating is tied to loneliness, grief, stress or old hurts. Many people combine approaches. If you want advice on what to eat for a health condition, a registered dietitian is the protected title to look for, and they must be registered with the HCPC.

How many sessions will I need?

It varies. Many people book around four to six sessions a couple of weeks apart, so there is time to try things between appointments. Some feel steadier sooner, and some carry on for longer, especially when the feelings behind the eating run deep. It is fair to ask at the first chat how your practitioner would plan it.

Roughly what does it cost?

Private sessions with a weight and eating practitioner commonly start from £50, and often more in big cities. Hypnotherapy and counselling are usually in a similar range. Many offer a free first chat. Check the length of a session, whether there is a package price and the cancellation terms before you book.

Where it fits alongside NHS care

The NHS offers advice on healthy eating and weight, and your GP can refer you to local weight management services or talking therapies where they are available. Many people use a practitioner alongside that for extra, regular support. It is not a replacement for medical care, so please don't stop or change any treatment or medication on the strength of a session.

When to see your GP first

Please talk to your GP, and tell your practitioner, if you eat large amounts in one go and feel out of control, make yourself sick, skip meals to make up for it, feel very low or anxious, have diabetes or another condition affected by food, or are taking medication that changes your appetite. These can be signs of an eating disorder, and your GP can point you to the right support. A good practitioner will tell you if another route is better first.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms that haven't been checked, or you are under medical care, please talk to your GP as well.

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